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Comparison · checked Nov 2026Offline Captions vs the Captions app (captions.ai)
Offline Captions is a pay-once caption app for creators: it adds animated word-by-word captions to videos on your own computer (Windows now, Mac coming) or free in your browser for clips up to 5 minutes.
Short answer: they are different products from different companies. Captions (captions.ai, made by NOCAP, Inc., now branded Mirage) is a phone and web app for AI editing, avatars and generation, and its paid plans start at $24.99 a month. Offline Captions is a desktop app that only does captions: it transcribes on your own computer, works without internet after a one-time setup, and costs $39 once ($29 founding price). If you want AI actors and generated B-roll, Captions does things we don't. If you just want animated word-by-word captions without uploading or a subscription, that's us.
Which one should you pick?
- You want captions, not a full AI video studio.
- You need to caption videos without internet, or footage that shouldn't be uploaded.
- You edit on a Windows PC and want to pay once.
- You caption many videos and don't want credits or a monthly bill.
- You film and edit mostly on your phone.
- You want AI avatars, AI actors, generated B-roll or lip-dubbed translation.
- You want 100+ caption templates and 100+ languages.
- You're happy to upload and pay monthly for the extra AI features.
Side by side
| Feature | Offline Captions | Captions (captions.ai) |
|---|---|---|
| Main job | Animated word-by-word captions | AI video editing and generation, including captions |
| Price | $39 once ($29 founding) | Max $24.99/mo; Frontier from $69.99/mo (iOS prices) |
| How you pay | One-time purchase | Subscription with monthly AI credits |
| Works without internet | Yes, after a one-time setup | No, cloud processing |
| Where speech is transcribed | On your computer | Their servers |
| Platforms | Windows now, Mac coming; free web version | Phone apps and web |
| Free option | Free web version (clips up to 5 minutes, no signup) | Free plan with 1 caption template and no AI credits |
| Caption styles | 4 animated styles | 100+ caption templates on paid plans |
| Languages | English, plus a dedicated Hinglish mode | 100+ |
| Exports | MP4 with captions burned in, plus SRT | Captioned video; transcript download |
Source: Captions pricing, checked 3 Nov 2026. The page says its prices reflect iOS plans; yours can differ by platform and country. All names are trademarks of their owners; we are not affiliated with any of them.
Not the same company
People sometimes search for "captions offline" and land on the Captions app, or the other way round. Offline Captions has no connection to Captions or Mirage. The name describes what it does: captions made offline, on your own machine.
FAQ
Is Offline Captions the same as the Captions app?
No. Captions (captions.ai) is made by NOCAP, Inc., now branded Mirage. Offline Captions is an independent desktop app that makes captions on your own computer, offline, for a one-time $39.
What is the best desktop app for adding captions to videos without internet?
For animated word-by-word captions on Windows, Offline Captions transcribes on your computer and works without internet after a one-time setup, for $39 once. For plain subtitles, free tools like Subtitle Edit with Whisper also run offline. See the best offline caption apps.
Does the Captions app work offline?
Its AI features run in the cloud, so you need a connection to transcribe and generate. Check Captions' own help pages for any offline editing features.
How much does the Captions app cost in 2026?
Its pricing page lists Max at $24.99 a month and Frontier from $69.99 a month, in USD, for iOS plans. There is a free version with one caption template (checked 3 Nov 2026).
Stop renting your captions.
Unlimited videos, offline, no watermark. $39 once, or $29 at the founding price.